2016 Renault Clio 1.5L Diesel · LR66 JSZ

The 2016 Renault Clio presents a generally sound roadworthiness profile, though the MOT history reveals a pattern of deferred maintenance that a buyer should not overlook. The most recent test, conducted on 31 March 2026 at 51,789 miles, resulted in a pass. However, the tester flagged an offside rear inner road wheel distortion, a smearing front wiper blade, and a stone chip in the offside windscreen. These are minor items, but the wheel distortion in particular warrants closer inspection as it can indicate kerb impact or underlying suspension geometry issues. The maintenance trend is broadly stable, with the vehicle passing its last three consecutive tests, yet the recurrence of windscreen wiper defects across multiple years suggests basic consumable upkeep has been inconsistent. At roughly 5,179 miles per year, the Clio has covered very low mileage for its age. The record shows a modest but steady accumulation, moving from 46,504 miles in July 2023 to 50,448 miles by March 2025, then reaching 51,789 miles in March 2026. This equates to approximately 1,300 miles over the most recent year and around 3,900 miles in the prior twelve-month interval. The gaps between tests are consistent with annual cycles, and there are no suspicious mileage reversals or sudden spikes. Low annual mileage can mean reduced drivetrain and brake wear, but prolonged periods of inactivity risk seized components, perished rubber bushes, and moisture ingress into brake and fuel systems. The 2025 failure on 19 March at 50,445 miles is the most significant entry in the record. A fractured offside front coil spring, an excessively worn nearside front suspension arm ball joint, and a rear service brake system requiring adjustment or repair all point to a period where the front end and braking system were neglected. The coil spring fracture alone is a serious structural concern, as it compromises ride height, handling predictability, and tyre contact patch under load. The fact that these items passed at the subsequent retest on 24 March 2025 suggests repairs were carried out, but a prospective buyer should verify whether the replacement spring is a genuine OEM-specification part and whether the ball joint was renewed or merely re-greased. Suspension bushes, track rod ends, and lower arm assemblies on the front axle should all be physically checked for play and deterioration. Beyond the front suspension, the recurring tyre wear advisories from July 2023, where both front tyres were worn close to the legal limit and on their edges, indicate possible wheel alignment drift or under-inflation over time. Combined with the 2025 ball joint wear, this suggests the front geometry has been out of specification for some period. A buyer should inspect the inner and outer sidewalls of all four tyres for uneven wear patterns, check the rear brake discs and pads for scoring or lipping given the 2025 advisory, and examine the offside rear wheel for any visible buckling or cracking. The exhaust system, engine mounts, and subframe mounting points should also be inspected for corrosion, as low-mileage vehicles that sit unused for extended periods can develop surface rust that accelerates structural weakness.